If you’re an avid gardener, you may have camellias in your outdoor plant collection. Camellias are beautiful flowering shrubs that add a touch of elegance to any garden. But do deer eat camellias?
Deer do not usually eat camellias. Camellias are deer-resistant because of their strong scent, rough-textured leaves, and bitter taste. But a hungry deer will eat almost anything, which may include camellia plants.
Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating camellias can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your camellias, and keep them healthy and beautiful all season long.
Why Do Deer Eat Camellias?
As we covered, deer usually stay away from camellias thanks to their strong scent and bitter taste.
Deer are most likely to eat camellias during spring because they’re hungry after a long winter, or if it’s late in fall and other food sources have been depleted.
Your camellias are less susceptible to deer damage later in summer when many other food sources they prefer are available.
Deer can do some serious damage to a large amount of camellias in a single sitting if they’re hungry enough!
This was confirmed in a 1999 study on deer plant eating habits by Cornell University.
And don’t think that your newer camellias are safer either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Are Camellias Deer Resistant?
Camellias are regarded as deer resistant thanks to their taste and scent, both of which deer do not like.
Deer also don’t like leaves with textures like hairs on them, and the ridged edges of camellia leaves are a turn-off for them.
The bitter taste of the flowers and leaves usually keep deer away.
Deer have a keen sense of smell, and the strong scent of camellias also repels them.
As we mentioned earlier, just because camellias are deer resistant doesn’t mean they are completely safe from being eaten by deer.
You should always take additional steps to deter deer from your camellias and other plants and flowers.
Read on to learn more.
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Camellias?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting camellias from hungry deer: their habits, your scent, repellent options, and when you plant them.
Deer will eat nearly anything if they’re hungry enough, so your main goal is making your garden as least inviting to deer as possible.
Check out our guide on how to keep deer from eating plants where we cover 25 quick and easy tips for keeping hungry deer out of your garden.
Will My Camellias Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, camellias can bounce back from browsing by deer if given some care, attention, and time.
Camellias are considered evergreen, so they’ll stay year-round in nearly all climates.
Once they’re initially established, they will remain rather hardy and hold up to occasional browsing by deer.
Do Deer Eat Camellias? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat camellias?
Not usually, but they will if they’re hungry enough.
Deer will usually stay away from camellias, but may eat them during spring when they’re hungry after a long winter or in late fall when other food sources have been depleted.
Have any observations to add to the discussion? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.
Check our our other helpful wildlife guides while you’re here:
